Joe. Mr. Long Island. Piano Man. Whatever you call him, Billy Joel is synonymous with some of the greatest songs of all time. But prior to the release of The Stranger in 1977, Joel was about to be dropped by Columbia records after 4 albums peaked low on the charts. So what makes The Stranger so special? How did it make Billy Joel a household name? Read on for five things you might not know about Billy Joel and this titular album.